How to Get Deodorant Stains Out of Clothing

We’ve all been there – you’re rushing to get dressed in the morning and accidentally get deodorant marks on your favorite shirt or dress. Those greasy, waxy stains can be so frustrating! But don’t worry, with some simple techniques and ingredients you probably already have at home, you can get those pesky pits stains out in no time.

Why Do Deodorants Stain Clothes?

To understand how to tackle deodorant stains, it helps to understand what’s in deodorant that causes staining in the first place. Most deodorants contain ingredients like:

• Aluminum – This is what helps block sweat and odor. It can leave behind sticky, stubborn marks.
• Oils – Deodorants contain waxes, mineral oils, and silicone oils to help the product glide onto your skin smoothly. These oils transfer to your clothing.
• Dyes and fragrances – These ingredients give deodorant its color and scent. They can set into fabrics.

When these deodorant ingredients come into contact with the fibers in your clothes, they can set into stiff, greasy stains that seem impossible to remove. But with the right techniques, you can break down those substances and lift them away from the fabrics.

Act Quickly for Fresh Stains

When you first notice a fresh deodorant stain on your clothes, act quickly while the stain is still wet. This will prevent it from setting further into the fabric. Follow these steps:

• Blot the stain – Use a clean paper towel or cloth to gently dab and lift as much of the deodorant as possible from the fabric surface. Don’t rub, which can push the stain deeper into the weave.
• Flush with water – Hold the fabric stain-side down under a stream of cool water. This helps flush away any residue.
• Apply stain stick – For extra lifting power, use a stain removal stick and gently dab it onto the stain before washing.

Then launder the garment as usual with detergent and check that the stain is gone. Catching fresh stains early is the easiest way to remove deodorant marks.

Pre-treat Old Deodorant Stains

But what if you don’t notice an old deodorant stain on an item of clothing until it comes out of the wash still marked? Or you thrift a fabulous blouse only to get it home and discover old faded stains under the arms? Not to worry – you can still get rid of set-in deodorant stains, it just takes a little more work. Here are some effective methods:

• Rub with bar soap – Apply some bar soap directly onto the stained area and gently rub it in circular motions using your fingertips. The soap will help break down oily residue. Let sit briefly then rinse.
• Baking soda paste – Make a paste with baking soda and water, and gently scrub it onto the stain using an old toothbrush. Let sit for several hours or overnight before washing. The baking soda will help lift the stain.
• Whip up laundry pre-treatment sprays – Mix equal parts white vinegar and dish soap in a spray bottle, shake well, and spritz onto stains. Or, try a mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap. Let sit before washing. These solutions help dissolve oils and residues.

Launder Stain-fighting Tips

Once you’ve pre-treated those nasty deodorant stains, finish the job by laundering the item carefully. Follow these tips:

• Wash with hot water – Use the hottest water safe for the fabric (check clothing tags). The heat will help dissolve any remaining oil-based stain residue.
• Extra laundry booster – Throw in some OxiClean or sodium percarbonate powder into the wash along with your regular detergent for extra degreasing cleaning action against oils and waxy residue.
• Air dry – Avoid the dryer heat, which could set any lingering stain residue. Air dry the clothing in sunlight instead – the sun’s UV rays have natural stain-fading abilities.

Prevention is Ideal

While it is possible to get deodorant stains out of clothing, the best solution is not to get them in the first place. Here are some handy tips to avoid getting those annoying white streaks and grease stains on your outfits when you’re in a morning rush:

• Put deodorant on first – Apply deodorant before you get dressed, so residue can fully dry rather than transferring onto clothing.
• Wear an old shirt – Throw on a beat-up tee when applying deodorant that you don’t mind getting messy.
• Use clinical strength stain-free formulas – Switch to a heavy-duty deodorant specially designed not to stain clothing.
• Apply deodorant less often – If you shower at night, you can skip the AM deodorant application.
• Protect delicate fabrics – Wear a towel or robe over fancy tops when applying deodorant.

In Summary

As you can see, while deodorant stains can be tricky, you can get them out of clothing by using ingredients like soap, baking soda, vinegar and hot water to break down and dissolve those oils, waxes and aluminum compounds. Catch stains promptly, pre-treat old ones, wash with heat and stain fighters, air dry and voila – the stains will be gone! And next time, use some preventative measures so you never have to deal with pits stains again. Here’s to keeping your wardrobe fresh and fabulous!

References

Tide. “How to Get Deodorant Stains Out of Clothes.” https://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/how-to-get-stains-out-of-clothes/how-to-get-deodorant-stains-out

Persil. “How to remove deodorant marks and stains.” https://www.persil.com/uk/laundry/fabric-care/how-to-remove-deodorant-stains.html

The Spruce. “How to Remove Deodorant Stains from Clothing.” https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-remove-deodorant-stains-2146368